Roopbaan Rainbow Rally (2014, 2015)

April 14 is celebrated as the first day of Bangladeshi new year. Xulhaz Mannan organized a Rainbow Rally to celebrate a more inclusive new year in 2014. The colors of the rally created a natural camouflage for the community, and yet LGBTQ people could walk as themselves in a public space for the first time. It was only after the rally ended that the country and world noticed what happened. The incident proves how, if not being singled out, LGBTQ people are not any different from others. Despite the country’s violent reaction in 2014, Xulhaz organized another rally in 2015. The 2016 LGBTQ rally was canceled under pressure from the Government of Bangladesh amid threats from religious extremist groups.

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About Roopbaan

Roopbaan is a Bangladeshi non-profit, non-partisan, volunteer-based platform for LGBT individuals and their allies. It works to raise awareness about Bangladeshis who represent sexual and gender diversity, and advocate for their human right to love.